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Asked: 2024-09-26T22:14:42+05:30 In:

How can I completely turn off Wayland on my Ubuntu system?

I’ve been diving into customizing my Ubuntu setup lately, and I keep running into this wayland thing. I’ve been reading up on it, and it seems like a lot of people have mixed feelings about using Wayland compared to X11. I’ve noticed that some of my applications are behaving differently, and honestly, I’m just more comfortable with how things worked under X11.

So, I’m really interested in completely turning off Wayland and switching back to X11, but I’m not exactly sure how to go about doing that. I’ve found bits and pieces on forums, but they often sound a bit technical and I’m worried I might mess something up. I really just want my system to be stable and compatible with everything I’m running. Plus, I’ve got some older applications that I rely on, and they seem to work way better under X11.

I’ve heard that it might be as simple as editing a configuration file or changing a setting during the login process, but I’m not the best at those things. Is there a straightforward way to do this? Like, do I need to go into the terminal and type a bunch of commands or can I just change some settings?

Also, is it even possible to completely disable Wayland, or should I be looking for a way to just switch between the two? It would be great if someone could walk me through the steps in a way that’s easy to understand, maybe even like step-by-step directions. And if you’ve had any issues after switching back to X11, I’d love to hear about that too. Just want to make sure I’m aware of any potential pitfalls before diving in.

Any help from you all would be super appreciated! Thanks in advance!

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    2 Answers



    1. Switching from Wayland to X11 on Ubuntu

      Switching from Wayland to X11 on Ubuntu

      If you’re looking to switch back from Wayland to X11 on your Ubuntu setup, don’t worry, it’s pretty straightforward! Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to get you back to using X11:

      Steps to Switch to X11

      1. Log Out of Your Current Session: Start by logging out of your current desktop session. You can usually do this via the system menu at the top right of the screen.
      2. Select X11 Session: On the login screen, before entering your password, look for a gear icon or a similar settings icon near your user name. Click on it.
      3. Choose “Ubuntu on Xorg”: From the options that appear, select “Ubuntu on Xorg.” This is the one that uses X11 instead of Wayland.
      4. Log In: Now, enter your password and log in as you normally would.

      Completely Disabling Wayland

      If you want to completely disable Wayland, you can do this by editing a configuration file. Here’s how:

      1. Open Terminal: You can find the terminal in your applications menu, or press Ctrl + Alt + T to open it quickly.
      2. Edit the Configuration File: Type the following command to open the GDM configuration file (you might need to enter your password): 
        sudo nano /etc/gdm3/custom.conf
      3. Uncomment the Line: Find the line that says: 
        #WaylandEnable=false

        Remove the # at the start of that line so it looks like this:

        WaylandEnable=false
      4. Save and Exit: Press Ctrl + O to save, then Ctrl + X to exit.
      5. Restart Your Computer: Finally, restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

      Potential Issues

      After switching back to X11, most applications should work as they used to. However, keep in mind:

      • Some features like touch screen support may not behave exactly the same under X11.
      • If you experience any issues with your desktop environment, try checking for updates or reinstalling the graphics drivers.

      In general, switching back to X11 should help with compatibility for older applications, so hopefully this makes your setup more stable. If you run into any problems, just ask for help on forums or user groups! Good luck!


    2. To switch from Wayland to X11 on your Ubuntu system, the process is quite straightforward. First, during the login screen, you will see a gear icon or a settings option next to your username. Click on this icon after entering your username, and it will give you options for the session type. You can select “Ubuntu on Xorg” or “X11,” depending on your version of Ubuntu. Once you choose that, complete your login as usual. This method doesn’t require any terminal commands, making it user-friendly.

      If you want to disable Wayland entirely, you can do so by modifying a configuration file. Open a terminal and enter the following command to edit the gdm configuration file: sudo nano /etc/gdm3/custom.conf. In this file, find the line that reads #WaylandEnable=false and uncomment it (remove the `#` at the beginning). Save the file and exit the editor (Ctrl + O, Enter, Ctrl + X in nano). After this change, restart your system. Your applications will now run under X11, and those older applications should work without issue. Just keep in mind that some applications may behave differently in terms of performance and features, so it’s a good idea to test them thoroughly after switching back to X11.

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